“What is there to do at Harvard? Study?”
This is the question I constantly hear when talking to my friends back home. I pick up my phone and start scrolling through my camera roll. There’s more to Harvard than just studying.
I arrived on campus a week before the official move-in date; alone, anxious, and amazed. With only my light on in a three-person suite, every sound became amplified - and so did my thoughts. What am I supposed to do now?
August 22, 2024 5:53 pm
That same week, I met so many of my peers who shared the same feelings through my pre-orientation program, FYRE (First-Year Experience Retreat). This week-long social program welcomes first-generation incoming students to campus, and it quickly became my source of support. I was placed into a “FYRE family,” with two “parents,” who are upperclassmen, and “siblings,” from the class of 2028.
There, I met my two very close friends, Fikayo and Amya, the day after I moved in, and we haven’t left each other’s side since. With each random conversation and spontaneous side quest, those initial feelings of loneliness and concern were replaced by a growing sense of relief.
August 24, 2024 10:51 am
Campus was chillier, Halloween was around the corner, and my 19th birthday was here! It was my first birthday away from home, and I was convinced I’d spend the day missing my parents and childhood friends. While I loved being on campus and meeting new faces, I still longed for a birthday filled with familiarity and comfort of home.
I didn’t plan anything special, I mean, it was a Wednesday after all, and with midterms approaching, I didn’t expect everyone to pause their schedules just to celebrate. Yet, somehow, my roommates, Marissa and Christiana, pulled off the sweetest surprise. The moment I opened our dorm room door, I was met with my friends shouting, “Happy Birthday!”, accompanied by my favorite ice cream cake. My birthday was not spent in a library studying, but rather, in a room full of friendship.
October 9, 2024 10:38 pm
A few weeks later, my friends and I rented a car and set off on an unplanned road trip from Cambridge to New Hampshire to watch the seasons change. The drive was gorgeous with trees in shades of red, orange, and gold lining the roads we passed. Once we arrived, we first stopped at a cozy coffee shop filled with shelves of books, sipping on warm drinks and eating banana bread. Afterward, we drove to a scenic trail, with a beautiful stream that flowed between rocks, surrounded by trees of autumn colors. To end the day, we visited a pumpkin patch and went apple picking, filling two bags with fresh red and green apples. I also picked out a tiny, adorable baby pumpkin, which sat on my desk for weeks as a sweet reminder of that perfect fall day.
October 20, 2024 12:00 pm
November arrived and so did the cold temperatures, bringing out the thick jackets, gloves, and my bucket list. Angela, my close friend, took me as her plus one to watch the Boston Symphony Orchestra perform, which is something I had always wanted to do. We dressed up in our fancy outfits and headed to the grand concert hall. The atmosphere was breathtaking, with elegant balconies, a stunning view, and the rich sound of the orchestra filling the space. It was a wonderful night of music, and another cherished moment I crossed off my list.
November 12, 2024 9:23 pm
With the end of my first semester quickly approaching, one of the most exciting events of the year had finally arrived: Harvard-Yale! All the first years, in particular, look forward to this game that is talked about from the moment you step foot on campus. With a rivalry that has been going strong since 1875 and the biggest football game of the season, the stadium was filled to the brim with students, alumni, and fans all cheering Harvard on. I went with my roommate and friends, sipping on hot chocolate while waving red pompoms in the air. It was one of my favorite Saturdays on campus.
November 23, 2024 12:35 pm
These moments are just a very small portion of the countless memories I made during my first semester. There is so much more to Harvard than what people often assume. We spend our time exploring, laughing with friends, trying new things, and having unforgettable experiences. Whether it's pre-orientation programs, road trips to see the leaves change, or cheering at football games, every day at Harvard is something new. It is not just long days in the library…while sometimes that is the case.
